The traditional lands of the Darug People, Penrith is quickly becoming an iconic food, culture and business precinct that is attracting patrons, visitors, and entrepreneurs from across Sydney, NSW and the country. It’s a suburb with strong community values centred around sport, culture and hospitality – all of this makes for a buzzing place to visit.
North Penrith is located just over the trainline, and is a growing area rich in quality food, culture, and green spaces – you just have to know where to look!
At the northside of the station, you’ll find the leafy urban living area of Thornton.
Designed around the area’s natural environment and history, Thornton is an impressive display of architecturally impressive apartments, parks, and environmental sustainability by First Point Projects and St Hilliers.
Enjoy a bite to eat and a coffee at one of the nearby cafes including T8 and Profiterole. Then head out for a stroll around the landscaped walking paths. Home to several impressive sculptures, the 1870 Thornton Hall, a commemorative cricket oval, and a community garden, this area is great for families.
If you’re looking for the best local coffee in the area, Underground Coffee Roasters is only a short drive or walk away. A favourite among locals, you’ll enjoy their coffee straight from where they roast the beans.
Next, you’ll be ready for a bigger bite to eat. Luckily North Penrith has a growing food scene, as hospitality business owners are setting up camp in the industrial area. We ate at Smokin’ Hot N Saucy and Rusty Penny, who have converted a warehouse into an impressive smoke house and beer hall. Opening in 2022, you’ll love their new take on local beer and Texan style smoked meats.
We enjoyed their smoked beef brisket, wings, pulled pork and sausage paired with a refreshing schooner of Rusty Penny’s craft brewed Pale James – a tongue-in-cheek tribute to a local mate. With a massive screen and pool table, this venue is the perfect place to watch the footy and spend a night out with mates.
If you’re looking for a restaurant dining experience, you need to head to Avli. Just up the road, this authentic Greek restaurant, which names means ‘The Backyard’ sits in a converted church building. Boasting supreme views of the Nepean, Avli is a hidden gem primed to impress.
You’ll choose from a menu, proudly designed by the owners to be hearty and classically Greek. They pride themselves on sourcing all food from Greek producers and local growers – they even make their own wine, coffee, and oil. You can’t go wrong when it comes to their menu, they have all your favourite dishes made fresh and with great care.
North Penrith is also home to the International Regatta Centre, which hosted the rowing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It’s open to the public, and is ideal for a picnic, a walk around the 5km loop track or even a paddle. This venue is still the base of Paddle Australia and continues to attract world events and international athletes. Spend a while soaking up the atmosphere and hype from this significant venue in Western Sydney’s history.
The exciting thing about North Penrith is there’s still so much to come. With plans to grow the area as an international sporting precinct, hospitality area, and facilitator of the growth from the new airport, North Penrith is certainly a suburb to have on your radar.